Enabling sustainable growth

What does sustainable green growth mean?

A world running on green energy will limit climate change, improve human health, and create economic growth.
But the pursuit of this vision must take place sustainably.

Society faces the challenge of the need for more energy, but also the need to reduce climate change.

At Ørsted, we believe the energy we consume should not only come from renewable resources, but should be built, operated and distributed in a sustainable way. We are working towards an energy system that´s entirely green.

Our transformation from black to green energy means we are facing different challenges today than we did a decade ago. We acknowledge that all modes of energy generation have a potential bearing on society and the environment. We take this potential impact seriously.

Working towards solutions

We work to address societal challenges to ensure sustainable green growth.

The conversion of our coal plants to biomass means we are stopping the use of coal and that we use certified, sustainable biomass.

We protect biodiversity when building offshore wind farms. The delicate ecosystems surrounding our projects need to be protected for the survival of unique fauna and flora. Our biodiversity policy ensures we achieve this.

In the communities where we operate, we strive to meet the needs and expectations of the local population, and to be a positive influence on society.

We promote sustainable environmental practices in our operations. By improving energy efficiency and the reuse and recycling of waste, together we achieve best practice and help to improve standards in the industry.

How we´re achieving a greener world

We have defined eight sustainability programmes to enable sustainable growth in different ways.

Enabling sustainable growth - Programmes

Sourcing of certified sustainable biomass

SDG#15 --> Target: 15.2

Forest-based biomass as an energy source can play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions. However, only sustainable biomass can ensure significant reductions. We document the sustainability and supply chain emissions of the forest-based biomass through independent third-party certification and in accordance with the Danish Industry Agreement.

Local communities

SDG#11 --> Target: 11.A

Open dialogue with communities is a natural part of how we do business across our markets. Our business footprint varies in every market and so do the needs and expectations of local communities. We engage in dialogue with workers, local governments, community leaders and NGOs.

Protecting biodiversity

SDG: #14 #15 → Target: 14.2, 15.5

Biodiversity makes life on earth possible through clean water, oxygen, and food. Without proper environmental impact assessments (EIA), wind farms may have a negative impact on ecosystems. We conduct a full assessment of potential environmental impacts of our offshore wind farms, including biodiversity.

Employee performance and development

The transition to a low-carbon economy will require new talents. We seek to attract, develop and retain the best talent to support the growth of our business.

Employee satisfaction

	Satisfied and motivated employees thrive in their workplaces and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive working environment. We measure employee satisfaction and motivation through an annual employee engagement survey and use the responses to actively improve our workplace.

Employee diversity and inclusion

SDG: #5 → Target: 5.5

Non-discrimination and equal opportunities enable people to live up to their full potential. We work to ensure equal opportunities and promote diversity and inclusion through transparent recruitment processes, talent development with focus on female leadership, unconscious bias training and a corporate culture for inclusiveness.

Energy savings

SDG: #7 → Target: 7.3

Given current and expected growth in global energy demand, deployment and integration of green energy must be supported by energy efficiency improvements. We aim to continuously increase the energy efficiency of our own activities.

Resource management

SDG: #12 → Target: 12.5

By reducing waste, reusing and recycling materials, organisations can contribute to a more efficient use of natural resources and further lower carbon emissions. We aim to decrease company impacts on the environment by improving the reuse and recycling of waste generated in our operations and reducing hazardous waste rates.

A world that runs entirely on green energy

Enabling sustainable growth

Business integrity

Waste is a resource for green energy

Increasing waste levels is a major global challenge. In Ørsted we see waste as a valuable resource when the organic content can be turned into biogas, which is a green alternative to natural gas. We invest in waste solutions that can help utilise the many resources that waste has.

Taking care of the rich diversity of life on Earth

All energy infrastructure is built in a unique environment where we have to do
our utmost to protect the natural ecosystems. It is central that we manage
environmental impacts on these ecosystems well to obtain permission to build
wind farms.

A healthy working life in a busy world

In a modern fast-paced culture,
it is crucial to actively support
employees to counter stress and
burn-out. In 2018, we introduced
our Ørsted Life programme
– a new, holistic effort to support
the health and well-being of our
employees.

A greener planet for a better world

Download the report